Red Sox’s Sandoval set for shoulder surgery
Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval will undergo left shoulder surgery in the coming days, the team announced Monday night.
Sandoval’s operation will be performed by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. The team said it will provide additional information on the surgery following its completion.
Sandoval, 29, was placed on the disabled list with a left shoulder strain on April 13 after going 0-for-6 and committing an error in his first three games of the season.
The two-time All-Star and former World Series MVP is in his second season with the Red Sox after signing a five-year, $90 million deal in November 2014.
Sandoval is a career .287 hitter with 116 home runs and 509 RBIs over 998 games.
Bangor native posts best Web.com Tour finish
Despite a final-round 76, Bangor native Jesse Speirs posted his best finish on the Web.com Tour as he tied for 57th by shooting a 5-over par 293 at the United Leasing and Finance Championship at the Victoria National Country Club in Newburgh, Indiana, this weekend.
The 29-year-old Speirs, who is a rookie on the tour, made the cut for the second straight tournament after missing it for the first five tourneys.
He shot a two-over par 74 in the first round before notching an even-par 72 in the second round and a one-under-par 71 in the third round.
Speirs pocketed $1,566 and moved from 165th to 147th on the money list with total earnings of $3,061.
Seamus Power became the first Irishman to win a Web.com Tour event by firing a 12-under-par 276. He earned $108,000.
The next tour event will be the Rex Hospital Open at the TPC Wakefield Plantation layout in Raleigh, North Carolina on May 12-15.
Orioles lose shortstop to foot fracture
Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy suffered a hairline fracture of his left foot on Sunday and will miss from six to eight weeks.
Hardy fouled a ball off his left foot in the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox. He ended up coaxing a walk in that at-bat and actually took the field in the fifth, but by the sixth inning, he had been replaced by Manny Machado.
Hardy, a two-time All-Star, was hitting .244 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Just as important as his offensive output, his defense will be missed. He is one of four shortstops who has not made an error this season.
The Orioles are expected to call up infielder Ryan Flaherty, a former Deering High of Portland star, from Triple-A Rochester to take his spot on the roster.
MLB suspends Dodgers pitcher suspended for 80 games
Major League Baseball on Monday suspended Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Josh Ravin for 80 games after testing positive for Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 2.
Ravin is on the 40-man roster, but has been on the disabled list after breaking his arm in a car accident during spring training.
The suspension of Ravin is effective immediately.
Patriots decline fifth-year option on Cooper
The New England Patriots have decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on guard Jonathan Cooper, NFL.com reported Monday.
As a result, Cooper will become a free agent after the 2016 season.
New England acquired Cooper in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals last month, giving the Patriots the decision on whether to pick up the option on Cooper, who was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
A broken leg prevented Cooper from playing his rookie NFL season, and he made just 11 starts over the past two seasons.
Also, the Patriots announced they released defensive back Rashaan Melvin and linebacker James Vaughters.
Steelers’ Harrison returning for another season
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison confirmed Monday he plans to return for the 2016 season.
Harrison posted a photo on Instagram with a message that read “I’M BACK” in bold.
Harrison compiled five sacks and 40 tackles in 15 games (one start) last season as a rotational pass rusher. He has 76.5 career sacks.